Naturists have their place in the sun, too

I read with interest your article on people enjoying mere nude sunbathing on the remote beaches of Hawaii (TGI, March 19).

Because one person finds nudity offensive, he then wants a law to ban mere nudity and turn naturists into criminals. That mindset is un-American and not logical.

The Florida Supreme Court has ruled that mere nudity, absent lewd and lascivious behavior, is not indecent exposure and is acceptable in a place set apart for that purpose.

The U.S. Supreme Court in a case has ruled that “not all nudity is offensive” ... “Not all nudity is harmful to children” ... and “if a person finds the nudity objectionable, then all they have to do to cure the offense is to avert their eyes.”

Today, most courts, including jury instructions, distinguish the difference between “mere” nudity and lewd and lascivious behavior. You can be lewd while clothed and that is when it is most common.

In Miami-Dade County, Fla., the county government agreed with the naturists that naturism, nude sunbathing, was a form of recreation and thus they were obligated to provide a facility for those who enjoy nude sunbathing and swimming.

Since governments provide designated facilities for the recreational wants of other groups. e.g.; golf, tennis, baseball, football, basketball, marinas, soccer and all the others, then they were obligated to provide a designated facility for naturists. That facility only required the installation of a few signs on a deserted beach and the naturists paid for the signs. Today, that beach, as a facility, has the largest annual attendance of any facility in South Florida. Over 1.5 million visitors annually.

The parking lot collects over $1.7 million annually, making it one of the most profitable public parks in the United States

Because 65 percent of the visitors are tourists, the economic impact, by government agency stats, is over $950 million annually and creates over 12,000 jobs annually. The local county police say that there are less problems on the naturist beach and often wish the naturists would take over the remaining 1.5 miles of beach in the park.

Hawaii needs designated naturist beaches. The signage designating a naturist beach at the entrance simply states: “Beyond this sign you may encounter nude sunbathers.” That way a person who finds mere nudity offensive would know not to go there.

On the opposite side it states: “Beyond this sign clothing required.” Isn’t that a fair and simple way to solve the issue?

Only oppressive governments ban nude sunbathing. Soviet Russia and Nazi Germany banned (naturism) nude sunbathing. Once Nazism was defeated and after the Iron Curtain fell, naturism (nude sunbathing) flourished again in those countries.

• Richard Mason is president of the president Florida Naturist Association.